By Lucy Bowman
Anyoung: a friendly greeting commonly used in Korea. This is the word a certain Sports Studies professor used to describe the warm and welcoming environment at McPherson College. She explains this is her favorite thing about the college: “It says ‘Anyoung’ with my students.” Dr. Min Jung Kim, a new faculty member in the sport management program, is currently in her second semester of teaching. Students can find Kim in a wide variety of classrooms, teaching anything from sports finance to sports society. In these courses, Kim works to ensure that students become well-rounded individuals. When discussing the topic of education, Kim said, “My goal as an educator is to ensure that students are well-prepared for the next steps in their lives while having a well-rounded education.” This mindset is especially important in the department of health and sport science, where students will likely have a diverse set of responsibilities in their area of work. With this, Kim is upholding the main mission of the college (to develop whole persons through scholarship, participation, and service). Not only does Kim have an interesting personal background (she was a professional ice skater for 16 years!), but she has also completed an impressive educational journey. Kim has her Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. in Physical Education, all from Sookmyung Women’s University in Seoul, South Korea. She received an additional master’s degree in Sport Venue and Event Management from Syracuse University, and Ph.D. in Sport Administration from the University of New Mexico. Before adopting a full-time teaching role, Kim accepted an adjunct position in the Sport Administration program at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Kim decided to accept a full-time position at McPherson College, and says she was drawn to the campus because of its “student-centered teaching environment.” Outside of the classroom, you will likely find Kim participating in some form of physical activity. She explains that she loves movement: jogging to lifting weights. Kim also enjoys playing golf, and states that it is one of her favorite sports. So, if you are looking to start a conversation with this health professor, ask her about her golf games! In her down time, Kim enjoys watching programs on Netflix. She would like students to know that she has not yet seen “Squid Game” but is planning on watching the series when the new season is released. So, if you see Kim on campus, be sure to say “Anyoung!”
